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1066-1485 AD
1066-the year the Normans defeated the Anglo-Saxons at the Battle of Hastings. William the Conqueror, a Norman (French), was now king of England.
A. The Anglo-Saxon culture and Norman/French culture blended.
B. Normans ruled less than 100 years.
C. Brought Feudalism: land divided among noble barons. Knights served barons. Lowest class were the serfs or peasants.
A. 1154-end of Norman Rule, beginning of RoyaltyB. Plantaganet Rulers
1. 1st one-Henry II-increased King’s power and took it from the barons. Wanted also to lead Roman Cath. Ch. He had Archbishop Thomas Becket of Canterbury murdered—1170.2. 1215-King John singed Magna Carta. In this document, he agreed not to raise taxes w/o consent of barons.3. Others-Richard the Lionhearted, John, Edward I, Richard II (last one)
C. Lancaster Rulers1. 3 Kings: Henry IV, V, and VI
2. Henry VI-went insane-gave rule to uncle, Duke of York, while he recuperated.
3. 1455-Henry VI got better, wanted throne back. Duke fought & won-war 30 years. “War of the Roses”
D. York Rulers1. 1st one-Edward IV-encouraged William Caxton to
make printing press.
2. Edward V-only 12 years old when he takes throne. Uncle Richard III takes over-kills Ed V and his brother-then takes the throne-Richard III killed in battle because of this.
3. Henry Tudor takes over, distant relative of Lancasters
A. Knights: fought French, journeyed to Holy Lands, jousted in tournaments
B. Chivalry: ideal knights must live by-honorable, courteous, generous, brave, skillful in battle, respectful to women, helpful to weak.
A. Roman Catholic Church-all belonged-barons, knights, serfs.
B. Knights fought for church-crusades for Holy Land
C. Cathedrals were built during this time
A. 1349-Black Death/Bubonic Plague killed 1/3 of the people in England.
B. After plague-cities sprung up everywhere.
C. Work Guilds formed
D. End of Knighthood-invention of gunpowder
A. Romances: stories with a blend of chivalry, touches of love, magic & marvels.
B. Folk Ballads: stories sung by common people.
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
By the Pearl Poet
Notes – Sir Gawain
Composed in England around 1370 A romance poem: a narrative set in the
world of knights, kings, and supernatural creatures.
Exciting story full of adventure Derived from the word “Roman”
Notes, cont.
Romance poem includes three stages: a dangerous quest, a test of honor or courage, and a return to the point from which the quest began.
Author is anonymous but is known as the Pearl Poet b/c he also wrote the poem “The Pearl.”
Author was probably a member of the court b/c he’s so familiar with court life, costumes.
English spoken between 1066 and about 1470
Followed Old English, also called Anglo-Saxon, spoken from mid-5th century CE– Germanic influences
What happened in 1066?– Norman (French: Normandy) conquest of England– Added French influences!
Notes
Sir Gawain, the main character, appears in several tales of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
King Arthur: Legendary king, probably warrior during the invasion of Britain by the Angles, Jutes, and Saxons.
Arthur was head of the Knights of the Round Table.
Notes
Knights of Round Table: the greatest fighters, represented chivalry at its best.
Camelot: fictitious place where the Arthurian legends take place
Chivalry: the code by which knights lived. Courteous, courageous, and honorable
Knights
Characteristics of a knight: strength, skilled at arms and horsemanship, courageous, loyal, and courteous.
Sir Gawain – a knight of the round table. At first considered the weakest of most insignificant knight. Volunteers to accept a challenge from the Green Knight.
Literary Terms
Symbolism – use of symbols that exist on a literal level within a work but also represent something on a figurative level. Symbols can be a person, animal, place, object, event, color, etc.
Alliteration-the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
A narrative set in the world of knights, kings and supernatural creatures.
Relates to and deals with King Arthur and his court.
Romance poem includes three stages: 1. a dangerous quest2. a test of honor or courage3. and a return to the point from which the quest
began.
The basic material of medieval romance is knightly activity and adventure; we might best define medieval romance as a story of adventure.